When a booking is accepted, the shipper advises the shipping line the estimated cargo weight. Once after accepting cargo from shipper, the carrier moves cargo to load port and if terminals weighs the cargo, the actual weight has to be intimated to the vessel planning authorities for necessary stowage.

Since the overweight of cargo effects the stability of vessel, the stow planning officials of vessel can stop loading such misdeclared overweight cargo. The shipping line can also stop loading container if found weight declared wrongly by shipper.

Inland highway authorities at different states in different countries have different rules and regulations. While booking a cargo for door delivery at destination, the shipper should know such regulations of each destination state or country (or both) pertaining to the weight conditions. If the cargo has been loaded with an excess weight or wrong declared weight, shipping line can switch the transport mode in Bill of lading as ‘port to port’, even though the carrier accepted goods as ‘door delivery’, as the shipper violated the terms and conditions of weight declaration. In such cases, all necessary additional charges with penal charges if any to be paid by the shipper. The carrier also can transfer the excess shipped cargo to another container and the necessary charges has to be born by the customer.

Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) is under the process to establish a universal international regulatory requirement on this issue to make confirm on the actual weight of cargo available with the vessel operators before ship stowage planning. The compulsory weighing arrangements are being introduced in due course by authorities to regulate these issues.

Comments

Worthy article to everyone specially to entrants like me. One must have knowledge of all the hidden practical problems.

Thuan:
On 08 February 2014

thank you so much for your share!

Ravi M Mamtora:
On 03 October 2014

Thanks for sharing and writing on this topic. it was nice to read all your post related to import export and will be helpful to me. Once again thanks for sharing

VIJAY RAMANI:
On 31 January 2015

Fantastic article with good piont of expalianation.

Anup Sahrma :
On 17 February 2015

with in how many days ammendmend can be made in
Bill of Lading .Is bill of lading date expired after certain limit time.

Jamshed Siddiquee:
On 18 February 2015

I am going to first time import ferrous and nonferrous scrap from Canada so pls which type of documents to be present for custom clearing

Shrinivasan:
On 03 May 2015

Thanks for your sharing knowledge. It is very helpful for me as a beginner. Thank you.

saravan:
On 07 May 2015

Sir..
In Bulk vessel : As per final draft survey if we found the cargo is excess than BL/ Manifest quantity, then will Customs impose any penalty for the same ? even if we ready to pay necessary Customs duty for excess cargo....

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